The cutest little pumpkin pattern

You can find the cutest little pumpkin knitting pattern here.  I've knit up 3 of them already and am working on a larger one too.

Wedding Day

 The wedding was nearly perfect.  Here are some photos of the wedding craftiness I wanted to share.  I was thrilled that my daughter got into the spirit and completed numerous projects including painting the centerpiece bottles, making signs and program fans, helping with the large flower pouffs, etc.  I hope I've imparted to her some of my love of creating.  Their gift to me was a beautiful engraved necklace that reads "You made our wedding beautiful"

Wedding site, Ste Chapelle Winery

Chalkboard sign

Reception set up

Guest table

Reception table decor

Programs

Flower girl baskets

Cards

Gifts for bridesmaid lunch...scrabble tile necklaces

Bags and tags for bridesmaid lunch gifts

Stamped forks for wedding cake

Banners

Photo blocks process

Veil

Photo blocks painting

His and Hers bathroom signs

Flowers (80+) in process

Sashes for bridesmaid dresses

Garter

Flower girl dresses in process

Flower girls' baby sister dress

Flower girl dresses

Cover ups for dresses

Backdrop

Hand knit ring bearer pillow

Program Fans

Coloring books

Ringbearer

Bridesmaid thank you

Best Day Ever banner on head table

Pouffs (8) made from coffee filters

Backdrop from fabric strips and ribbon

Ste. Chapelle Winery

The bride puts finishing touches on the guest table

Bridesmaid dress and schedule

Hand painted sign by entrance

One of four banners

Rehearsal dinner

Table runners

This was one of the first wedding projects.  It would have been easy except for the fact that I made 28 of them!  My daughter liked some table runners she saw on Etsy, however, they were $48 apiece.  Needless to say, she turned to her crafty mother and I volunteered to make them. 

I didn't keep step by step photos, but these are the steps I followed to make the runners:

• cut fabric into 4 strips across and 3' to 5' in length (depending on table size)
• sewed a narrow hem all around using my machine
• Cut fusible hem tape (5/8") in half lengthwise (I couldn't find any that was thin enough)
• Hemmed again by ironing and inserting fusible hem tape all around.(I did not want any stitching to show on the top side.)

 

Wedding Central

With the engagement of my daughter, my crafting has focused on wedding-related items for the past month.  Today, I made 36 of these paper flowers.  Believe it or not, they are made from coffee filters.  I used the instructions here but with these modifications/shortcuts:

• I folded 3 coffee filters at a time; after folding 4 times, I cut both corners off which avoided having to do other cutting later.  
• I used a hot glue gun to glue the floral wire to the first filter.
• I used duct tape to secure the filters after the 5th and 10th filter, then I used floral tape to wrap over the duct tape (seemed stronger).  
• A package of 200 filters in each size (4-6 cup and 8-12 cup) will make 40 flowers. 
• You will need:  coffee filters, floral wire, floral tape, duct tape, hot glue gun and glue, scissors

Hiatus

So, I've taken a considerable hiatus from blogging. In that time, I retired from my day job. Incredible as it seems to me, I feel that I have even less time now that I am not working.

So what has filled me time? A new commitment to exercise has taken me to the gym about 3x a week. I started reading again, and knitting more.

I'll try to post some of my retirement creations in the next weeks. First on my list is the only new design I've finished since retirement.

I call these January Mitts and they were made to go with my best-selling Cabled neck warmer. I knit quite a few pair getting the pattern just right. You can find the pattern on Etsy or on Ravelry if you are so inclined.